Development of Coupled Electrochemical Systems for Metal Resource Recovery From Aqueous Metal‐Organic Complexes

ABSTRACT The past decade has witnessed a burgeoning demand of metals for global industrial development and infrastructure. Meanwhile, the depletion of mineral resources and the environmental damage caused by wastewater discharges pose significant threats to both economic and ecological sustainability. Fortunately, metal‐containing wastewaters also hold potential as valuable secondary sources for metal recovery. However, metal ions in real‐world effluents are typically complexed with organic ligands, making them challenging to recover using traditional electrochemical methods. In this review, various coupled electrochemical systems for metal recovery from metal‐organic complexes in aqueous solutions are outlined. Electrode material design and device construction for coupled electrochemical systems are also fully discussed. Additionally, the current challenges and future directions in coupled electrochemical systems for the recovery of complexed metals are highlighted.